Ferris State University student Quincee Denault earned a Michigan Department of Education
Breaking Traditions awards for overcoming obstacles and stereotypes to be successful
in career and technical education programs.

Denault, of Lowell, Mich., is a 4.0 student majoring in Mechanical Engineering Technology
in Ferris’ College of Engineering Technology. She graduated from Lowell High School
in May 2012.

“Being a female in a nontraditional program teaches confidence and how to prove oneself
in difficult situations,” said Denault, one of 25 students who received awards. “As
I entered my junior year of high school, I knew I needed to find a place and a path
to continue my education and to support the skills and abilities that had now come
so natural to me. Factors such as these are what contributed to my decision to follow
a nontraditional path of a female in Mechanical Engineering Technology at Ferris.”

Ali Siahpush, an associate professor in CET, nominated Denault for the award. Chuck
Drake, professor and Mechanical Engineering Technology program coordinator, and Leigha
Compson, university career programs specialist, wrote letters of recommendation in
support of Denault.

“Quincee’s mathematics and engineering understanding are outstanding,” Siahpush said.
“In my expert opinion, there is no question that Quincee will be an extraordinary
scientific researcher.”

Denault believes that her program fits her skill set, personality and interests.

“Females should be encouraged to break the tradition and follow their passion,” she
said.

During the 2014-15 academic year, Denault served as vice president of the Women in
Technology student organization and was on the dean’s list – among other honors.

Denault, and the other winners, were saluted by the MDE.

“The Breaking Traditions awards recognize high school and college students who have
demonstrated success in CTE programs that are nontraditional to their gender,” State
Superintendent Mike Flanagan said in a press release issued by the MDE. “At a time
when there is a call from various stakeholders for building a more-responsive, market-driven
schools-to-jobs pipeline, it is important to recognize the efforts of these students
and the programs that helped them.”

The MDE’s Office of Career and Technical Education has oversight of high school instructional
programs that develop student skills in a specific career cluster. Most programs offer
early college credit opportunities to provide a seamless transition to postsecondary
education.